Good point singletracking - if anyone's going to outlaying serious cash you'd want more detailed photo's. For example, the 4-Star (second from the (on screen) right) looks to have bent forks! And as for the "... my father's restored them ..." - they look a bit ratty actually.

Some of the visible components don't look particularily correct for a 'restoration' either, eg 'safety' brake lever extensions on the 5 Star.

I'd need to view the bikes personally before I would decide on bidding or how much. But as I'm not going to get to VIC in the near future, I'll just watch this one and hope to hear from the winning bidder as to if it's trash or treasure they've acquired.

This is a rather brief listing description for such an significant collection of historic Australian bikes! Could you please post some more images and decriptions of each bike's components etc? Thanks

and received this reponse:

Yes, I appreciate your comment. These bikes belong to my 80yo father. He does not have access to the internet or digital camera & I am some distance away from him so not able to photograph myself. He is happy to take phone calls to discuss the collection. In the meantime I will obtain further info & post as it becomes available. Thank you for your interest.

I think I'd want to see rather than discuss... but gee, Benalla is a long way to go.

If they are in nice, original nick, I'd hope this collection goes to a good home that can look after them (and ride them), rather than being taken apart and sold-on as parts.

Where is the best place to read-up on old Malvern Stars?

Is it normal to have some much clearance between the wheel and the forks of the bikes, I'm looking at the 4 and 5 star in particularly - are they 700c wheels in a 27" frame?

Following up from your previous message. I have contacted my father and he has been given a digital camera. I have instructed him to take a photo of each bike individually and write a profile on each i.e. modifications, flaws, etc. For background he is mechanically minded having restored old vehicles (FX, Morris) as well as bikesâ€“he restored to excellent riding condition a 1930s tricycle and a Peugeot folding bike for my children. However he is one for practicality not aesthetics so not sure of condition of paintwork etc. but will be evident on detailed photos. A bidder will need to make own assessment of these bikes from the listing and preferably by contacting him and/or viewing. As to the value it is really what people are prepared to pay â€“ if they donâ€™t sell heâ€™ll just hang on to them and try again later. I do know he would prefer that they be sold as a collection rather than individually. Until recently he was riding one or more these bikes around town. Cheers.

The real jewel in this lot is actually the 4 Star. If the forks are bent then it's only by a small amount & a competant framebuilder can rectify that fairly easily.
Hell, I even have a fork alignment guage myself.

This would be followed by the 5 Star which, while sought after, is much more common, with the bent 3 Star just avoiding the scrap heap by virtue of its novelty value & the 2 star rating little better than scrap if the frame & fork is sound & undamaged as these are still to be found in reasonable numbers if one keeps ones eyes open.
The 1 star seems to be the glued-on plastic star version from the 70's & 80's & if this is right, then it basically IS scrap.
If it actually proves to be a genuine late 30's or 1940's version then it's real value would be in it's rarity. I have never seen one.

Given the chance to bid on them individually, I'd be puting my money on the 4 Star as I have a couple of pre 1952 5 Stars already.